April 12, 2025: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced another tough defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, this time at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The loss marked yet another setback for CSK, who are struggling to find their rhythm in the tournament, sitting at ninth place in the points table with five losses from six matches.
The team had a dismal start in the powerplay overs during the match, managing only 18 runs for two wickets after the first five overs. Following this, MS Dhoni, who took over as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, defended their approach, emphasizing the need to play conservatively and stating, “If we start looking for 60 with our lineup, it will be very difficult for us.”
However, former CSK opener Matthew Hayden disagreed with Dhoni’s cautious strategy. In a detailed analysis, Hayden expressed his concern that CSK’s conservative approach would leave them playing catch-up throughout the game. He pointed out that the surface was a “180-plus wicket,” indicating that CSK should have aimed for a higher total instead of being conservative in the early stages. “I genuinely felt like this was a 180-plus wicket. It looked like a good surface, and you hear MS Dhoni talk about the powerplay. His response was that we’ve got to be conservative. I disagree,” Hayden said during his commentary on JioStar.
Hayden further emphasized that the powerplay difference between CSK and KKR was too significant. While KKR had managed to score 60 runs in their powerplay, CSK was languishing at 30. “30 is often a multiple of 5 times the advantage that you can afford to give away in an IPL. KKR’s last match, they lost by 4 runs, so it’s so significant. I believe that CSK are getting into a space where they’re catching up in the tournament, and they need to be leading from the front. You get caught if you play catch-up,” he added.
Hayden also criticized CSK’s top-order batters, stating that the lack of a strong start was putting unnecessary pressure on the middle order, particularly on Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni, who were being forced to play under intense pressure in the later stages of the innings. “They’ve got good enough players. Being conservative is also cutting into their sharp shooters like Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni, who are under so much pressure at the back end. In my experience, you’re not supposed to catch up. You get caught if you’re thinking that way, and that’s exactly what unfolded in front of us this evening,” he concluded.
CSK will need to address their strategy and batting woes as they prepare for their next match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 14. With their backs against the wall, it’s crucial for the team to regain their winning ways if they are to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.